Elemental Fae Academy: Book Two: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance Read online

  I flew upward, hand to my racing heart.

  Titus stirred beside me, his abdomen rippling as he stretched in his sleep. He murmured my name and sighed, his lips curling.

  God, he was beautiful.

  For a few blissful hours, he’d helped me forget, provided me with a pleasure that still hummed through my being.

  Until Exos called to me.

  I rubbed my chest, tentatively plucking at the wounded bond and wondering what he’d been trying to tell me. It sounded like a warning, a sharp plea for me to listen, only to be silenced by something harsh.

  The connection between us thrived, more alive than before but still tainted by a dark, disturbing presence. Who are you? I wondered, careful not to provoke the essence. It weighed over our bond like a thick cloud, menacing and cruel and filled with malicious intent.

  Something about it seemed familiar, reminding me of the out-of-control vortex from Air Quad earlier this week. But that was impossible. Aerie had cast that havoc, laying the blame falsely at my feet.

  So how do I know you? I slid from the covers, my skin tender from Titus’s affection. A glance at the clock had me swallowing a groan. I’d slept for maybe two hours. It would have to be good enough because I was wide awake now.

  But Titus could sleep another ninety minutes or so before he had to wake for class.

  Maybe I’d have breakfast ready for him.

  I smiled at the thought of something normal to do. Then remembered there was nothing normal about fae food. Frowning, I put on a pair of silky shorts and a camisole top, then wandered into the shared kitchen of the dorm to see what I could find.

  No eggs.

  No bacon.

  Not even potatoes.

  “What the fuck am I going to make without the staples?” I grumbled, unfamiliar with pretty much every item in the fridge. What I wouldn’t give for some cheese and peppers to put in an omelet. Ugh, my stomach rumbled in agreement at the thought.

  “Uh, want some help?” a soft voice asked from behind me.

  I whirled around to see Vox standing in the doorway in a pair of pajama pants, his long hair mussed and hanging around his bare shoulders. I blinked twice, stunned by the sight of his surprisingly ripped torso. His slender appearance had placed my expectations on the scrawny side, but Vox possessed the body of a runner—lean and athletic, without an ounce of fat on him.

  He raised a dark brow. “Claire?”

  I shook my head, clearing it. “Sorry, you startled me.” Understatement. More like he shocked the hell out of me. I coughed to unblock my suddenly thickened throat. “I, uh, wanted to make an omelet. But there aren’t any eggs.”

  “Eggs?” he repeated, his brow furrowing. “In the morning?”

  “When else would you eat them?” I wondered aloud.

  He stared at me for a long moment and shrugged. “Not in the morning, but all right.” He started shuffling through cabinets until he found two cartons and set them on the counter. He inspected the inside and smiled. “These’ll do. They’re fresh, too.”

  “Why aren’t they in the fridge?”

  “Why would you put eggs in a fridge?” he countered.

  I considered and finally sighed. “I’ve heard it’s not common in Europe. I guess it’s like that.” Whatever. I wanted eggs and he provided them. “What about cheese?”

  “Why would you pair eggs and cheese?”

  “Because it’s delicious?” I suggested.

  With a dubious expression on his face, he opened the freezer and found a bright orange brick. “Here.”

  Gross. “That’s not cheese.”

  He glanced at it. “Uh, yeah, it is.” He set it on the counter. “Anything else?”

  “Mushrooms, onion, and bacon.”

  “That’s disgusting,” he accused, looking appalled. “Not that I know what bacon is, but why the hell would you defile a mushroom with cheese and eggs?”

  “Have you tried it?” I asked.

  “Of course not. It sounds awful.”

  A laugh bubbled past my lips, causing my shoulders to shake. And then I erupted in a fit of giggles I couldn’t seem to stop.

  He thought an omelet sounded awful. This fae. One who probably ate that hideous-looking green mush that Exos favored. I couldn’t stop laughing, the humor of it all bursting inside me in a wave of much-needed release.

  This entire world, all these men, were completely unfathomable, yet real. And they didn’t want to eat an omelet.

  “What the hell did you do to her?” a gruff voice demanded, causing the cabinets to shake around us. “Did you break her?”

  “She wants to make some sort of atrocity with eggs and cheese,” Vox explained, shuddering.

  I laughed harder in response.

  “Why the fuck would you put eggs and cheese together?” Sol demanded, sounding affronted by the very idea.

  “Oh, and she wants to add mushrooms and onion, and something called bacon.” Vox gagged at the notion and Sol joined him.

  I swiped the tears away from my eyes, thoroughly amused. “Get me some mushrooms and onions, then park your asses there.” I pointed to the stools by the bar. “I’m going to blow your mind.”

  “Park my ass?” Sol repeated, glancing at Vox. “Can you believe this chick?”

  The Air Fae’s lips twitched. “I gotta admit, I’m officially curious.” He started rooting through the kitchen and handed me a single mushroom that was the size of a head of lettuce. “Onion, onion, onion,” he repeated, searching the freezer. “Nope. No onion. But I can add it to my grocery list for later today.”

  “Maybe check the pantry?” Wasn’t that where onions went?

  Both men looked at each other, then at me. “What?” they said in unison.

  “Never mind,” I sighed. “What about pepper? Like, the vegetable, not the spice.”

  “Why would pepper be a spice?” Vox asked, already looking.

  He handed me two orange bell peppers a moment later, causing me to smile. “Finally, something normal.” It wasn’t cold, but it smelled right. “And pepper can be a spice on Earth.”

  “Humans are weird,” Sol muttered, taking his seat at the counter. “Pretty, but weird.”

  My lips quirked. “You think humans are pretty?” I found a knife and started chopping the pepper, much to the horror of Vox observing.

  “Well, you’re the only one I know,” Sol said, lifting one broad shoulder in a shrug. Unlike his counterpart, he wore a shirt, but something told me he’d be a solid brick of muscle under those clothes.

  Not that I wanted to think about it.

  Or about Vox.

  I had a beautifully sculpted Titus waiting for me in the other room. Hopefully, he didn’t mind my making breakfast for them all.

  “How do I melt this cheese?” I asked, looking at Vox.

  He visibly gagged again. “In a pan?” He grabbed a skillet from under the stove. The presence of familiar items lightened something inside of me, as did the familiarity of being in a kitchen surrounded by foods I mostly recognized.

  Well, except the eggs had a strange purple consistency to them as I cracked them open.

  And the cheese was very much not cheddar.

  Sol and Vox both watched in obvious disgust as I mixed all the items together in the skillet, neither of them saying a word.

  Right, so it didn’t look like an omelet at all when I finished. More of a purple hash with the strong aroma of vegetables. But the gooey cheese made me smile.

  “Do you have any tomatoes?” I asked.

  Both men looked ready to vomit.

  “Never mind,” I said slowly, twisting my lips to the side. “Humans would call this—”

  “What the hell is that smell?” an aristocratic voice demanded as Cyrus came into view wearing a suit from Exos’s wardrobe. Of course they wore the same size.

  “Claire made breakfast,” Vox whispered, his nose scrunched up in clear disgust.

  Cyrus came around the counter to study the pan. “That’
s repulsive, Claire.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I didn’t make it for you,” I snapped, my amusement melting into immediate annoyance. “Actually, if none—”

  Sol tapped the bar, cracking the solid granite. “I want to try it.”

  Vox swung around on his stool and gaped at his best friend.

  “What?” the Earth Fae said, looking a smidge chagrined. “It’s food. I like food.”

  Cyrus snorted. “Such a simple-minded creature. I’ll pass.”

  “Considering I didn’t make you any, that’s perfectly fine.” I grabbed a plate and cut a piece of the omelet off for Sol, then slid it across the counter to where he waited with a napkin.

  He stared at it and shrugged. “Cool.” Then picked it up with his hands to take a bite.

  “Uh, you’re supposed to use a fork…” I pinched my lips to the side, unsure of where they were located, but Sol seemed to be doing fine without a utensil.

  In a blink, half the portion was gone. “It’s fucked up, but oddly good.” He held it out for Vox to take a bite.

  And much to my surprise, he did, his wariness disappearing into one of wonder. “Huh. I never would have put those ingredients together.” He glanced at me. “Okay, Claire. I’ll have a plate.”

  Pride prickled my chest as I cut him a slice and handed it to him—with a fork.

  Except, like Sol, he ignored it.

  The last two pieces were for me and Titus, leaving Cyrus alone. Where the jackass belonged. Not that he seemed to care as he prepared himself some sort of green, leafy shake. “Now that is repulsive,” I muttered, watching him feed a variety of plants into the blender.

  “Then it’s a good thing I didn’t make it for you,” he parroted, narrowing his eyes.

  I snorted, picking up the two plates I’d just prepared for myself and Titus. “Charming, as always.”

  “Oh, you’ve hardly gotten to know my charm yet, little queen.” His gaze dipped to my cleavage and lower. “I suggest you wear something more appropriate for class.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” I replied in a sugary tone.

  Vox and Sol observed the exchange, their expressions ones of dread and shock. I smiled at them, noting their clean plates. “See? Eggs and cheese can be good, right?”

  “Not my first choice,” Vox admitted softly. “But not nearly as horrible as I anticipated.”

  Sol lifted one of those big shoulders. “I don’t know. I liked it. Better than cafeteria food.”

  Cyrus snorted. “Not a resounding compliment, in my opinion.” He backed me into the counter behind me, then reached around for a straw, his gaze holding mine the entire time. “If domestication is your preference, I’ll have some of my mother’s recipes sent over so you can do your job properly.”

  If my hands weren’t full of food, I might have slapped him again. “Move,” I demanded.

  He cocked his head to the side. “Say ‘please,’ little queen.”

  I smiled, another idea coming to mind as I sent a blast of energy into his chest, knocking him into the counter where Vox and Sol sat with open mouths. “Please,” I said, my voice sickly sweet.

  Cyrus didn’t appear annoyed or angry, just amused. “Careful, Claire, or I’ll have to tell Exos you were flirting with me.”

  I scoffed at that. “Assuming you’re alive when we find him.”

  Vox gasped, while Sol chuckled.

  “Yeah, okay. I like her,” the big guy murmured. “This’ll do.” He pushed away from the counter. “Don’t forget onions for tomorrow, Vox. I want to try the human’s version of an egg pie again, but to her requirements. So find that con stuff, or whatever you called it.”

  “Bacon,” I supplied.

  He snapped his fingers, causing the entire building to shake around us. “That, yes. Whatever bacon is.” He clapped Vox on the back. “I’m going to get ready for class.” He disappeared down the hall, whistling as he walked.

  His size had intimidated me at first, but now I kind of liked the giant. I stared after him fondly until Cyrus stepped into my view. “Go feed your mate, little queen.”

  “Claire,” I corrected him, angry all over again. I’m not fucking little.

  “Sure,” he replied, sipping his green slush. “Have a good day, Claire.”

  “Eat shit, Cyrus,” I returned with a smile and rotated on my heel.

  Rather than rise to the bait, he chuckled, the sound following me all the way to my room. I hated how it warmed my skin and caused my belly to tighten. The asshole could at least have the common decency to be ugly. But no, he had to go around looking like Exos in his three-piece suit and ooze sex appeal.

  Bastard.

  “Enjoy class,” Vox murmured as he passed me, his control of air seeming to send the words to my ears alone. “And nice gust in the kitchen back there,” he added, his dimples flashing. “I couldn’t have done it any better myself.”

  My cheeks heated at the compliment. I’d sent that wave of energy out of me without thinking, wanting the jackass royal to move. But it was nice to know I’d done it correctly. “Thanks,” I said softly.

  He reached around me to open the door, something I hadn’t tried to do yet, thanks to the plates in my hands. “Don’t tell Titus what’s in that if you want him to eat it,” Vox advised. “Tell him afterward.”

  “Will do,” I replied. “See you later today.”

  “Yep.” He gave me a nod and a wink, leaving me to my plans for breakfast in bed.

  Titus sat waiting for me, his back against the headboard, his auburn hair mussed with sleep. I’d wanted to give him more time to rest, but in reality, cooking had gone by faster than I realized. Still, he didn’t appear all that fazed, his green gaze tracking me across the room as I approached. “I don’t like waking without you in my arms,” he said, his voice deep and sexy.

  I set the plates on the nightstand and crawled into the bed, straddling his strong hips. “I wanted to cook for you.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Because it’s an activity I used to enjoy doing and I needed a distraction.”

  Some of his seductive energy slithered away. “Exos?”

  I nodded. “He reached out to me, but before I could reply, he was gone.”

  Titus reached up to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing the hollows beneath my eyes. “We’ll find him,” he vowed. “But Cyrus is right about keeping up appearances. We need to go about our business as usual and lull Mortus, or whoever has done this, into a false state of comfort.”

  “And if that doesn’t work?” I asked, biting my lip.

  “You’ll continue to search for him through the bond, but more carefully than last night.” He pulled me closer, his lips brushing mine. “Next time, I’ll help instead of that royal prick.”

  I smiled. “I would like that much more, yes.” I kissed him again. “Mmm, there are a great many things I would like, actually.”

  “Yeah?” he asked, his tongue sliding into my mouth for a taste. “Like what, Claire? What would you enjoy right now?”

  “Mmm.” I sucked his bottom lip between my teeth and released it with a pop. “I made you breakfast.”

  His brow furrowed. “I know.”

  “I want you to eat it,” I whispered, kissing along his jaw to his neck. “Please.” I licked the column of his throat, creating a wet path that led to the strong planes of his chest. “You eat while I indulge myself in an appetizer.” I gazed up at him as I continued my trail, kissing and nipping and memorizing the ripples of his abdomen on my way down to the prize below.

  “Claire,” he whispered, embers flickering in his pupils. His thick arousal sat heavy between his legs, the crown beading with liquid welcome.

  “Eat your breakfast, Titus,” I said, my lips hovering above his cock. “And I’ll enjoy mine.”

  I sampled his excitement, moaning at the salty taste of him, and took him deep into my mouth. He cursed, his fingers threading through my hair as he encouraged me to continue. Titus and Exos had tasted me so many times,
but I’d never returned the favor. And this morning seemed like a perfect opportunity to do so.

  “Fuck,” he breathed, his grip tightening as I swallowed more of him. He was too big for me to take completely, so I wrapped my hand around the base and squeezed. Rather than eat his breakfast, he stared at me with admiration and desire, his stark need soaking me between my thighs.

  This was supposed to be about him, but my body reacted accordingly, stirring a moan deep in my throat that vibrated his shaft.

  Titus growled, thrusting upward and forcing me to take more of him. He cursed, his lack of control evident in the way he tried to pull away, but I refused to allow it, needing to feel the empowering motions of his hips. I raked my nails across his thigh, my opposite hand still wrapped around the base, and groaned as he shot upward again.

  “Your mouth is fucking divine, Claire.” The harsh texture of his voice stirred a sensation in my lower stomach that only he could satisfy, but I ignored it in favor of providing him pleasure, my thighs squeezing together to keep my own needs in check.

  Fire slowly trickled from his being to mine, the flames heating my skin and taunting my own to come out and play.

  Passion smoldered between us, an inferno rising as it always did when Titus touched me. My pajamas disintegrated while the sheets remained, a show of fiery control from my mate, one that turned me on even more.

  He tugged on my hair, pulling his hardness away from my mouth and yanking me upward to meet his kiss. My back met the mattress, Titus’s hips settling between my thighs, and in one thrust, he filled me to completion. I groaned, my nails digging into his shoulders to hold him to me as more flames painted the air.

  He set the pace—a bruising, hard, punishing one that had my back bowing upward to meet him in our frenzy to fuck.

  Blissful escape.

  Ecstasy.

  Hot.

  Fuck, he mastered me as easily as his flames, his body knowing mine in a way no one else could. He used our shared element to intensify the sensations, covering my skin in a blanket of heat that left me screaming beneath him in the best way.

  Harder.

  Faster.

  More.

  My chants were a litany he returned in kind, giving me what I wanted until an explosion erupted between us and caused white lights to dance behind my eyes. His name was a curse and a blessing, his presence mine to adore, and our mating bond rejoiced between us.